Vets and Pets: Wounded Warriors and the Animals That Help Them Heal
Submitted by: Lloyd Remick
Category: Books
I am the a member of American Legion Post 405 and am the attorney and literary agent for Kevin Ferris, also a veteran, and Dava Guerin and am pleased to announce that their latest book “Vets and Pets: Wounded Warriors and the Animals that Help Them Heal” was released on September 26. A kick-off reception took place on September 26 where several of the book’s 14 subjects were hosted by former First Lady Barbara Bush, who is one of the two foreword writers, and her husband, the 41st President George H.W. Bush at their home in Kennebunkport, Maine.
“Vets and Pets” explores the stories and struggles of 15 veterans after coming home from physical wounds to PTSD and Traumatic Brain Injury. For example, Marine combat veteran Jimmy Didear served in Vietnam and struggled with PTSD for decades after returning home. He considered suicide multiple times. Jimmy’s life changed after he joined a local support group and met another veteran with a service dog. Working with the program Train a Dog Save a Warrior, Jimmy found Max and the two created a special bond and friendship, to which Jimmy says of his dog Max: “He depends on me, and I depend on him. That’s why we’re a team. He and I are closer than even my family because he’s with me all the time.”
“Vets and Pets” explores the lifelong bonds that develop between veterans and their service animals as well as spotlights nonprofit organizations that unite wounded warriors with service animals, including Hooves Marching for Mercy, Horses Helping Heroes, Avian Veteran Alliance, and Pets for Patriots, which will receive a portion of the book’s proceeds.
I was deeply moved upon reading Commander Rohan's recent American Legion email bringing light to the harsh reality of veteran suicides. I believe the stories in “Vets and Pets” will make a difference to veterans who are contemplating suicide through stories of the service animals that saved the lives of veterans as well as offering different organizations for veterans to contact in their time of need or in their pursuit for a service animal. I hope this book and its stories can serve as a catalyst to help other veterans.
About the author:
Lloyd Z. Remick, Esquire concentrates his practice in the areas of entertainment, sports, hospitality and communications law. He is also President of Zane Management, Inc., a Philadelphia based sports, entertainment and communications consulting and management firm. Mr. Remick received his B.S. from Wharton School in 1959, his J.D. from Temple University School of Law in 1962, and a L.L.M. in tax law from Villanova School of Law in 1984. Mr. Remick represents several award winning recording artists, writers, and producers, as well as a number of television, radio, and entertainment personalities. In addition, he represented and managed the late Grammy Award winning Grover Washington, Jr. for over 20 years and 4-time Grammy singer, producer and recording artist Bunny Sigler. Mr. Remick is a registered contract adviser with the National Football League Players’ Association and the NCAA. He has also represented athletes in variety of other sports, including basketball, baseball, ice-skating, crew, boxing, soccer, and track and field. Mr. Remick is also a registered contract adviser with the National Football League Players’ Association and the NCAA. He has also represented athletes in variety of other sports, including basketball, baseball, ice-skating, crew, boxing, soccer, and track and field. Mr. Remick also teaches entertainment and sports law at Temple University School of Law and “The Legal Aspects of Hospitality and Tourism” at the Temple University School of Hospitality and Tourism. He also guest lectures at various organizations and universities throughout the country on a host of entertainment, sports, hospitality, and business related topics. Mr. Remick co-wrote Keeping Out the Little Guy: An Older Contract Advisor’s Concern, a Younger Contract Advisor’s Lament, 12 Vill. Sports & Ent. L.J. 1, and The Personal Manager in the Entertainment and Sports Industries, 3 U. Miami Ent. & Sports L. Rev. 57 Mr. Remick was voted one of the “best, brightest, wiliest, winningest, most tenacious and efficacious attorneys” as well as “Best Entertainment and Sports Attorney in Philadelphia” by Philadelphia Magazine in 1999. Mr. Remick is perennially elected to Super Lawyers™ for Entertainment and Sports Law, International Entertainment Lawyer Of The Year™ and Best Lawyers™ in America. He is also listed in Who’s Who in American Law and Who’s Who in American Poetry. In 2016, on the international level, Mr. Remick received several awards worldwide as “Entertainment Advisor of the Year” and “Entertainment Lawyer of the Year.”